Sir Harry Studholme appointed Forestry Commissioner for England

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of Sir Harry Studholme as a non-executive Forestry Commissioner for England.

Harry Studholme is the owner and manager of the Perridge Estate, a forestry, farming and property business near Exeter, Devon. He is a board member of the South West Regional Development Agency, chairman of Integer Ltd, an insurance company, chairman of South West Food & Drink, and chairman of the South West Chamber of Rural Enterprise. For the past six years he has been chairman of the Forestry Commission's South West England Regional Advisory Committee, and is a member of the England Forestry Forum.

He has been appointed for an initial term of three years from January 2007, and replaces Tony Cooper, whose term of office has expired.

Lord David Clark of Windermere, chairman of the Commissioners, welcomed Sir Harry's appointment, saying,

"The forestry community is very fortunate to have secured the services of Harry Studholme as a Forestry Commissioner. He brings to the Board a particularly strong set of relevant skills, experience and abilities that he has already applied to our great benefit at a regional level, and I am confident that his contribution now at national level will be equally valuable."

For further information, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/commissioners or contact the Forestry Commission's public enquiry service on 0845 FORESTS (0845 367 3787); e-mail: enquiries@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.